Embarrassed !!!

I went to the store just now intending to buy some plastic totes to transfer some of the items we still have in card board boxes to totes because Uncle Richie said that card board boxes will attract silver fish. I hate silver fish because they will eat my nice clothes and sweater so I'm trying to eliminate card board boxes in my house to get ride of the silver fish. I didn't get the plastic totes though because they didn't have the size that I wanted that was supposed to be on sale.

Anyway I bought some other stuff and proceeded to go pay. When she was done ringing all my stuff I proceeded to swipe my credit card to pay for my merchandise. I swiped my card and was about to sign the machine but the cashier told me that my card was denied but she told me to swipe again and it was declined again!!OMGawd!!What happened I asked myself. So the cashier asked if I had another card which I had but I was so shocked that I didn't even know which card to use. I was stumbling to think which other card I wanted to use and then paid for my purchases.

As soon as I left the cashier; while going to my car I straightaway called the credit card company. I was upset because I knew that my card was not denied because we didn't make any payment or we over use our card and I could not think of another reason why my card was denied. I told customer service that I was about to use my card a minute ago and they told me that my card was denied. I wanted to know the reason why my card was denied because I'm up to date on my payment and it was really embarrassing to get my card denied!

Customer Service said that someone got the hold of my credit card number and made some charges on my card. They are not going to charge me for the purchases made by them. They have decided to shut down my credit card and will send me a new card. We are going to get a whole new account etc. I was shocked when I was listening to her because everything happened so fast. They claimed that they tried to call me yesterday which I think they did but they did not leave any message on my phone. I normally don't answer calls that I don't recognize the number that's why I didn't answer their call (if it was them anyway).

At least I know what is going on but I cannot help feeling so embarrassed. I think the cashier was thinking if you don't have money you should not be buying stuff!

I love presents!

I blog hop here and there when I have time and I see that there is a lot of blogs out there that have giveaway. I've never joined any giveaway because I don't think that I'm lucky enough to win anything. Anyway I've join some giveaway on a couple of blogs that I happen to stumbled upon just because I thought I'll try my luck and hopefully some time I would be able to win something.

Anyway I was surprise to receive an email from barb that I won Prize Pack from Victoria Hill Farm. I was really happy because this is the first time I actually won something without really doing anything. Thanks Barb!
I am very happy with my presents. Now I just have to make it to the store to get my free cookies. I told hubs I'm feeling lucky maybe I will win more goodies..

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Hubby has been hinting that he wants some chocolate chip cookies all day Sunday. Since I don't really like to bake during the weekend I told hubby that I will bake some for him this coming week (I didn't promise him when so he would hold me accountable for it :P if I didn't make it)

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon.
4. Refrigerate cookie dough for about 2 hrs.
5. Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
6. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. Cool on baking sheets.

I decided to whip up some cookie dough so that I could bake some cookies just before hubby arrives home from work. I knew that he's going to want to eat some when he gets back from work and true enough he was more willing to skip dinner and just eat cookies.

Although I reduced the sugar from the original recipe I still found the cookies a little too sweet. I am not sure would it be because I used a cup of caramel chocolate chip(I think is much sweeter) and one cut of semi sweet chocolate chip but next time I make it again I think I'm going to need to reduce the sugar a little more if I want to eat some of the cookies myself because I dislike eating too sweet of a cookie.

Shopping Again!

We got up early morning to head to REI to do some shopping. Although we didn't buy a lot of stuff but we still spend more money that I thought I would there.


The only thing that cost the most is the Coleman propane stove we bought. I've always wanted one so that when we go camping we can cook something instead of just grilling food on our portable grill all the time. Even though we don't go camping that much but I figure when I need to cook my pungent food I can cook it outside with this portable stove.

When we were done with REI we were both starving so I suggested we go to the BBQ buffet place. I know we should not have because we were just going to stuff our face but I was so hungry I just thought the heck with it :P.

After a very heavy brunch we went home and just chill. We watch some show on TV and I suggested to hubby to stop at the mall. Hubby agreed to it but then I wanted to change my mind because going out meaning spending more money but hubby said could just walk around and I agreed.

I didn't have anything that I wanted to buy but when I went in Coach I did try on a pair of shoes. I would like to buy them just because I wanted a pair but I knew I would not really wear it so I told hubby that I didn't want them although he was more than willing to buy it for me :) Then we went in Columbia and that was where the damages were done.


I love the Ashtanga™ II Pant so much that I got both the colors. At first when I tried the black color. I so wanted to buy bark/brown color too but I could only find it in S/regular and I needed the S/short because I'm short :P. After searching none available hubs suggested that I asked the Sales Assistant and she finally found one for me :).

When I first met hubby he had a lot of dark colored clothing and had very little colored clothing. I like it when the hubs wear different color clothing instead of just dark colored so I've been buying him more clothing with different color and I guess his taste changed and he likes to wear other color too. While I was busy looking for my pants hubby helped himself to some of the short sleeves shirts. He bought almost all the color available in his size. I was shocked but I am happy that he was willing to wear nicer casual shirts like this instead of just t-shirts.

Promoting SIL's Company

SIL's husband has a business selling golf clubs and accessories. To help promote his company her hubby joined a golf tournament organize by the country club. SIL's hubby have been practicing really hard for this golf tournament and have been trying to get sponsors to sponsor his company for this tournament.

SIL has invited us to join them on the actual to play some golf and also to help promote her hubby's company. I am assuming that since they want us to help promote their business they are going to have embroidered shirt or hats or even customized items for every one that attends the event. I think this would be a great way for people to remember his company. Since I happen to stumble Watermark which has great product I will ask them to look into this company to order their items from them. Hopefully they will order some useful goodies. :)

Buying a motorcycle

Uncle Richie and hubby have been talking about getting a motorcycle each this summer. Hubby's been wanting to get one since we sold his Goldwing before we moved down to here. We've been to several Harley Davidson dealerships now to find a good deal.

Hubby came across a place about 1 hr drive from Houston that sells motorcycle that has been in accidents. They will buy salvage motorcycle and put it together to make another motorcycle. There are some parts is still not perfect. Hubby was thinking of getting a motorcycle there because is so much cheaper and find parts for a great deal from Realhog to get the parts and accessories for what ever motorcycle he shall buy there.

Parmesan Tilipia and Sweet Potato Fries

I'm trying to clear my deep freezer so that I can clean it soon. I've also tried to stay away from the store because of the access of perishable food that I bought on my last few trip to the store. I already threw out two head of lettuce because we could not eat it in time (I have good intention to use all the perishable food that I bought). Anyway I've forbid myself from going to the grocery store to get anything (not even milk) until I've clear out my refrigerator and most of the deep freezer.
I remembered that we had some frozen tilipia in the freezer so I decided to make some fish for dinner and since I bought some sweet potato a couple of weeks ago I thought that I should use that too. I remember eating sweet potato fries at this restaurant a few months ago and loved it so I thought I would fry some up too.

Parmesan Tilipia

Ingredients

1 lb tilapia fillet (orange roughy, cod or red snapper can be substituted)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1-1/2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped green onions
1/8 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning (or salt)
1/8 teaspoon dried basil
Dash of black pepper
1/2 dash Tabasco sauce(or hot sauce)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In buttered 13-by-9-inch baking dish or jellyroll pan, lay fillets in single layer.
3. Do not stack fillets.
4. Brush top with juice.
5. In bowl combine cheese, butter, mayonnaise, onions and seasonings.
6. Mix well with fork.
7. Bake fish in preheated oven 10 to 20 minutes or until fish just starts to flake.
8. Spread with cheese mixture and bake until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
9. Baking time will depend on the thickness of the fish you use.
10. Watch fish closely so that it does not overcook.
11. Broil 3 to 4 minutes or until almost done. Add cheese and broil another 2 to 3 minutes or until browned.
Note: This fish can also be made in a broiler.

Initially I was not too keen on making fries because I the night before I made about 2 dozen of chocolate glaze donuts and thought that I should not make so much fried food but sweet potato fries was what came into my mind and it was also what I wanted to eat. I didn't want to bake it in the oven because I've tried baking sweet potato fries in the oven before and it didn't taste too good so I thought screw it I'll just fry it. I guess I should make some herb drink before I get sick from all these fried food.

Homemade Seasoned French Fries

Ingredients

2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes or just normal potatoes, peeled
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon onion salt
1 teaspoon old bay seasoning or salt or seasoned salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 cup water, or as needed
1 cup vegetable oil for frying

Method

1. Slice potatoes into French fries, and place into cold water so they won't turn brown while you prepare the oil.
2.Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. While the oil is heating, sift the flour, garlic salt, onion salt, old bay seasoning, and paprika into a large bowl. Gradually stir in enough water so that the mixture can be drizzled from a spoon.
3. Dip potato slices into the batter one at a time, and place in the hot oil so they are not touching at first. The fries must be placed into the skillet one at a time, or they will clump together. Fry until golden brown and crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels.

I've use this recipe to make french fries for quite sometime now. This french fries recipe is really yummy and is worth making. Even my hubby that's really picky with his fries approved of this recipe.